Apple, melon, ginger, peach and a floral lift - quite expressive and impressive already. Powerful fruit through the palate, with a good acid profile providing some lift. Good definition and depth. Lovely wine and more time will obviously serve it well.
Graphite, pear, apple, grapefruit and lemon aromas. Pure and layered on the palate, there is a tinge of sweetness to the fruit which works really well. Great length and carry.
Sealed under both cork and screwcap ... Golden orange coloured. Floral musk, orange, earth and some light kerosene. Quite mild on the palate, there is some some acidity around. Medium length and feels to be in good condition. With air it ramped up quickly to show more interest and then slowly faded back down. Great to try.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Served blind. Bursts from the glass with flint, spices, apple, peach, a crystalline lemon element and a real saline element. The palate asserts superb presence, with texture, stunning depth and a beautiful mineral shine that pervades the entirety of the wine. Supreme balance and length. The power and intensity of Montrachet and the mastery and control of Chardonnay by Ramonet presents a compelling and unforgettable package.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Popcorn, mandarin, flint and some peach. While this shows more ripeness than the 2011 that was by its side, it does have good acid balance to temper the fruit power and lovely depth. Doesn't sacrifice its character for fullness.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
This shows more restraint and brightness than the 2009 it was next to. Flint, white florals, spice, lemon and minerals. Great piercing acidity lifts the fruit up a level. Serious structure, with the depth of fruit to match. Has great shape and precision, this is brilliant!
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru
Cherry, licorice, blackcurrant and some funky earthy notes, there is a light roasted nut character but it isn't too obtrusive. The palate is a nice mix of savoury and sweet, medium length and some nice textural notes. In a good spot now and over the shorter term.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Blind. Light nose of herb, some smoke, cherry and earthy spices. The palate is restrained and shows a real delicate touch, there is a high toned red fruit note that is delicious. Amazing how silky and elegant it is for a 2003, but when it is revealed as Rousseau, the magic element becomes clear.
Bottled in June 2009. Cedar, mint, redcurrant, menthol and some charcoal as well. Quite sweet fruit initially on the palate, but then a real savoury element sweeps through the mid palate. Young but feels quite open and there is plenty to like about this already.
Raspberry, redcurrant, graphite, roses and strawberry aromas - very red tinged and beautifully pure on the nose. The palate is in a similar vein, with a delicacy and finesse that shines through, even with the tannin structure also asserting some control. Fantastic length and vibrancy, this was a really pleasant encounter and one that I hope to try again sometime in the future.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Licorice, red currant, cherry, ash and peppery notes on the nose. Quite strict on the palate, there is a coiled element to the fruit that is waiting to burst forward. I think more time here would be of great help.
Cherry, toast, ash, roses and blackberry on the nose. The palate is rather bright, with plenty of fine tannins lining up in support. Really good length and flow, there is even an element of refreshment to it. All fits together very nicely.
Apricot, orange, coconut and marmalade on the nose. The palate is nicely resolved and balanced, with the sweetness taking a secondary role. Good length and while it might not have the depth of a truly great Sauternes, it was still a delight.
2002 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 94 Points
France, Champagne
Apple, melon, ginger, peach and a floral lift - quite expressive and impressive already. Powerful fruit through the palate, with a good acid profile providing some lift. Good definition and depth. Lovely wine and more time will obviously serve it well.
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2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne 93 Points
France, Champagne
Graphite, pear, apple, grapefruit and lemon aromas. Pure and layered on the palate, there is a tinge of sweetness to the fruit which works really well. Great length and carry.
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1975 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Rhine Riesling 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Sealed under both cork and screwcap ... Golden orange coloured. Floral musk, orange, earth and some light kerosene. Quite mild on the palate, there is some some acidity around. Medium length and feels to be in good condition. With air it ramped up quickly to show more interest and then slowly faded back down. Great to try.
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2009 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Unfortunately has gone too far down the premox path.
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2010 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet 98 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Served blind. Bursts from the glass with flint, spices, apple, peach, a crystalline lemon element and a real saline element. The palate asserts superb presence, with texture, stunning depth and a beautiful mineral shine that pervades the entirety of the wine. Supreme balance and length. The power and intensity of Montrachet and the mastery and control of Chardonnay by Ramonet presents a compelling and unforgettable package.
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2009 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Popcorn, mandarin, flint and some peach. While this shows more ripeness than the 2011 that was by its side, it does have good acid balance to temper the fruit power and lovely depth. Doesn't sacrifice its character for fullness.
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2011 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
This shows more restraint and brightness than the 2009 it was next to. Flint, white florals, spice, lemon and minerals. Great piercing acidity lifts the fruit up a level. Serious structure, with the depth of fruit to match. Has great shape and precision, this is brilliant!
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2003 Domaine Dujac Clos St. Denis 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru
Cherry, licorice, blackcurrant and some funky earthy notes, there is a light roasted nut character but it isn't too obtrusive. The palate is a nice mix of savoury and sweet, medium length and some nice textural notes. In a good spot now and over the shorter term.
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2003 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Blind. Light nose of herb, some smoke, cherry and earthy spices. The palate is restrained and shows a real delicate touch, there is a high toned red fruit note that is delicious. Amazing how silky and elegant it is for a 2003, but when it is revealed as Rousseau, the magic element becomes clear.
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2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Bottled in June 2009. Cedar, mint, redcurrant, menthol and some charcoal as well. Quite sweet fruit initially on the palate, but then a real savoury element sweeps through the mid palate. Young but feels quite open and there is plenty to like about this already.
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2006 Alvaro Palacios Priorat L'Ermita 93 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Raspberry, redcurrant, graphite, roses and strawberry aromas - very red tinged and beautifully pure on the nose. The palate is in a similar vein, with a delicacy and finesse that shines through, even with the tannin structure also asserting some control. Fantastic length and vibrancy, this was a really pleasant encounter and one that I hope to try again sometime in the future.
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1982 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch Flawed
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Corked.
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2001 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Licorice, red currant, cherry, ash and peppery notes on the nose. Quite strict on the palate, there is a coiled element to the fruit that is waiting to burst forward. I think more time here would be of great help.
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2008 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Cherry, toast, ash, roses and blackberry on the nose. The palate is rather bright, with plenty of fine tannins lining up in support. Really good length and flow, there is even an element of refreshment to it. All fits together very nicely.
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1983 Château Gilette Crème de Tête 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Apricot, orange, coconut and marmalade on the nose. The palate is nicely resolved and balanced, with the sweetness taking a secondary role. Good length and while it might not have the depth of a truly great Sauternes, it was still a delight.
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